Combined torch and device for opening oil cups



0a. 21 1924. v 1,512,839 W. H. FISHER COMBINED TORCH AND DEVICE FOR OPENING OIL CUPS Filed Feb. 23 1923 mam Patented Oct. 21, 1924.,

tii iiihb srarzes WILLIAM H. FISHER, O33 LQUESVILLE, KENTUCKY.

COMBINED TORCH we navrcr. OPENING orL ours.

Apphcation filed February 23; 19233.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. Frsrrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Torches and .Devices for Opening Oil Cups, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to torches, particularly those used by enginemen about a locomotive or in railway shops. Enginemen are often required to go about, oiling a locomotive at night, and when they do so, both hands are occupied, one by an oil can, and the other by a torch. Thus whenever an oil cup or journal box has to be opened for inspection or oiling, the torch must necessarily be set down to leave one hand free. Usually the only convenient place to set the torch is on the ground and this often leaves the cup or journal box in darkness.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a torch with means whereby the covers of oil cups may be conveniently depressed or raised for inspection and oiling, and thus allow the engineman both to hold the light and open the cups, and yet have one hand free to wield the oil can. -Another object is to provide a torch Wltll improved means for supporting it in a vertical position when not in use, for instance on the wall of a locomotive cab. Still another object is to provide a torch having the above characteristics which is of simple construction and economical to manufacture. Other objects will be apparent from the accompanying description and annexed drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation, partly in section, of a torch constructed according to my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a vertical elevation showing the torch supported on a pair of hooks.

The torch comprises an oil reservoir 10 (preferably inthe form of a slender frustum of a cone, so as to constitute a convenient handle), open at the top and pro vided at the open end with a bushing 11 fastened therein by any, suitable method such as soldering. The opening in the bushing is preferably tapered and is threaded as shown at 12 to receive a correspondingly threaded tapered plug or thimble 14:. v The thimble is provided with a pair of laterally extending arms 15 integral therewith, and a longitudinal hole for the reception of a Serial no. eeusea.

tube 15, secured therein with a fluid tight joint. A ball of wicking 17, of asbestos or any suitable material is fastened over the end of the tube in any desired manner, such as by wires 18 and 19 passing through the tube, and in such a way as to form a closure for the tube. When the thimble is screwed up tightly, the threads of the thimble and bushing will bind, due to the taper, and form a perfect oil-tight. joint without the use of washers or packing of any kind.

The purpose of the arms 15 is three-fold. The relative proportions of the reservoir and wick tube are such that the arms are disposed above the center of gravity of the torch, even when empty, the arms therefore constituting means by which the torch may be supported in a vertical position when not in use. Fig. 2 shows the torch so supported on a pair of hooks 20 on the wall 21 of a locomotive cab. The armsalso enable the bushing carrying the wick tube to be unscrewed easily and tightly screwed up without wrenches or other tools. The main purpose of the arms 15, however, is to constitute implements which may be used to open, and close the covers of oil cups and journal boxes. Journal box covers are frequently both heavy and held closed by strong springs and therefore require a considerable force to open them. Consequently the arms 15 are of substantial and rigid construction, the bushing and thimble being made heavy to furnish a firm support. On the other handit is necessary to make the arms long andslender in order to adapt; them to open oilcups which have a small opening and an interior depressible closure.

The tor h is normally used in a substantially upright position. When it is desired to'light the torch, it is tilted downwardfor a moment to allow the wicking to become saturated with, oil. The wick will hold sufficient oil to burn for a few minutes, and in case it is desired to use the torch for a longer period, it is merely tipped down to replenish the supply of oil in the wick.

Itw ll be understood that the invention is not limited to the details described for the sake of illustration. but includes modifications which fall within the scope of the appended claim. 7

Having thus described the invention, what is cla med as new and desired to be, secured by Letters Patent is:

A combined torch and implement for opening oil cups comprising in ceinbination, a reservoir of slender frust0c0nical form open at its smaller end, a relatively heavy bushing secured in the open end, a relatively r heavy thimble adapted to fit iii-said bushing, a pair of rigid arms extending laterally from the thimble and adapted to be used for WILLIAM H ISHER. 

